(ANS - Bogotá) - For Don Bosco artistic expressions such as music, theatre and literature were never simple educational strategies or an optional extra for young people. They were an essential and eminently educational component. The band enlivened the religious and civic festivals that marked the year in the Salesian house and accompanied the trips organized by Don Bosco. The Third Music Festival took place on 20 October at the Don Bosco Centre in Bogota, with hundreds of musicians taking part.

(ANS - Ussita) - The earthquake that hit central Italy on the evening of 26 October miraculously caused no direct casualties among the population, but it has led to the collapse of buildings and widespread damage in the areas affected. One building seriously damaged was the Salesian house in the mountains which is located in Calcara of Ussita, one of the towns in the district of Ussita, the epicentre of the tremors.

(ANS – Anisakan) – After his arrival from Mandalay International Airport at the Myanmar Valdocco of Anisakan Nazareth House, the Rector Major Fr Ángel F. Artime, with his personal secretary, Fr Horacio López, and EAO regional, Fr Václav Klement, was welcomed by 400 youth and an almost complete gathering of the SDB and FMA of Myanmar with many Salesian Past Pupils. The three day visit to the Vice-Province is a truly historical occasion. 

(ANS - Rome) – The Poster of the Strenna of the Rector Major for 2017, which has been illustrated beautifully by the artist Mauro Borgatello has been presented for the first time today. It presents the Family, in real and concrete terms, in all its different facets, that it is not an abstract and an idealized model. It depicts the human family at large, which holds the preservation of life right from its very conception; the family, which is the Church; the family, which is created in every courtyard or playground of a Salesian House.

(ANS – Manila) – More than 500 patients were given free medical examination, medicines, pediatric, dental, reading glass, x-ray, pap smear and electrocardiogram at the Don Bosco TVET Center in cooperation with Rotary ChinaTown-Manila and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc on 23 October 2016 at the Mazzarello gymnasium in Don Bosco TVET Center-Tondo.